Getting my build thread started so I can keep track of my progress and hopefully get tips and tricks from you guys.

Unfortunately my Corolla Hatchback was totaled this last summer in a hail storm.


After being bummed and chilling for a few months I decided it was time for a new build. I’ve always loved gs300’s and I figured now was the time to build one. A few weeks of searching later I found this 2000 Gs300 with 150k miles on it for a great price. I picked the car up for $2500 and got to collecting parts to start the build.

 

The previous owner had swapped in a black leather interior from a sport model which was pretty cool, until I started to dig into it and realized that nothing was actually bolted in or fitting right. The seat belts were also completely locked in place so I think the donor car was in an accident of some sort. They had also installed the door card on a door that did not have the interior or exterior door handle connected so I had to destroy the door card to get to mechanisms to open the door.


This was super frustrating but not hard to find a replacement. After a few more days of parts hunting a local ad was made for a part out so I immediately went and got seatbelts from the parts car, they were tan but a seat belt is a seat belt for now. I also found out the seat belt design had changed between pre facelifts and facelift cars so I had to install tan buckles as well.

I still had my brand new Work Meisters from my Corolla so I mocked them up and decided to use those as the wheels for the car. I didn’t love the white look but I intend to paint the car pearl white anyways so it wouldn’t be a big deal.


That was the plan until I had some serious luck come my way. I was browsing Facebook marketplace one night and saw that someone had posted my absolute dream wheels for sale locally. A little bit of wheeling and dealing later I brought home these Work Ewing III’s in great condition.



17x12.5/13.5 but I will be stepping them up to 18’s and making them a tad less wide to fit the car.

 

I told a buddy of mine that I was building a gs300 and immediately he let me know that he had a parts car just sitting at his house. Sight unseen I told him I wanted it. When he dropped it off it turned out to be much more of a car that needed some parts rather than a parts car!



It’s a 2000 Platinum Edition that runs and drives great. I guess the previous owner had 2 of them, wrecked their black one swapped the wrecked black parts onto this car and used the white parts on his black one. Now because of that I’m almost wondering if I should build 2 gs300’s instead of using this as a parts car.

I had some money sitting in my eBay account so I decided to buy a BN style body kit. I wasn’t expecting much at this price point and I know from my 240sx days that all fiberglass kits need some serious work to have them fit well and look nice. But this kit was awful, the worst I’ve ever seen honestly. Avoid buying this at all costs.


It was shipped in loose cardboard and plastic wrap, not even a box just cut up pieces of cardboard wrapped around it.


The mold is all wrong and severely warped. I’ve never seen a body kit this bad. I test fit it on the parts car just to see if it was even usable, it really isn’t.



So lesson learned for me, I asked the seller about returning it but they wanted to charge me shipping to return it ($400 to the Dominican Republic) so my loss. Maybe I can graft it onto a stock bumper or something later down the road because I do like the shape.

 

I ordered a bunch of parts after saving for a little while and decided to do some headlight restoration while I wait for shipping. They didn’t come back to brand new but I think it made a large difference.



And that brings this thread up to date, I will definitely have updates as parts start to show up and I can get them installed. I plan to do a manual swap with an r154 and eventually an NA-T set up. My main goal is to have the car looking good with good fitment before summer so I can still participate in cruises and car meets, hopefully seat time by the following summer.

 

Nice build log so far, I enjoyed the read. Man that body kit is in abysmal shape, crazy how anybody can sell that. eBay buyer protection should have sorted you out.

 

That's impressively bad. It looked like trash in the listing but somehow managed to be even worse in real life. I've never seen anything like it. It genuinely looks like they used no reference or stock bumper to start with.

Hopefully the rest of your build goes smoother!

 

thank you! I considered it but after my conversation with the seller I’m just going to leave it be. I’ll sell it or do something creative with it at some point. Not worth the arguing back and forth with the guy.

thank you! Yeah it’s so bad it’s actually funny. I emailed BN USA to see if they have any aristo kits stateside, if not I’ll try to import one. Hopefully that will be much higher quality.

 

Small maintenance update but I installed some new figs engineering spherical bearings in the rear knuckle, new lower ball joints and front and tie rod ends up front as well. Such a worthwhile job, she feels so tight and drives like new.

 

I wonder if your noticed a big change in NVH from the rear sphericals? The oems all seem to die, but I went back with them (Dorman) because I’m wanting a cruiser.

Nice work so far!

 

Sick! Look forward to the build!

 

Finally got some parts coming in!

Got some nice spec d red and white led tails and secondary tails.



I was able to get a replacement door card from Johngs3 on here, great condition and his shipping and packing were excellent. Honestly better than most companies I’ve bought parts from. Huge thanks to johngs3


Driving to work the other day I was hearing an awful noise coming from the rear end of the car, found out the previous owner hadn’t installed the brake pad retaining hardware so I remedied that today as well.


And last but not least I found an incredible deal on some Leon Hardirrit Waffe’s in 19x9/19x10 so I scooped those up to have something to roll on while I rebuild my works.






Hopefully my coilovers should arrive within the next few weeks and she’ll be sitting pretty finally with decent fitment so I can start body work and paint. Also hoping to get some toe arms soon as well.

 

Woahha perfect score!

 

Had to slow down on buying parts for the holidays but I had a few things come in the mail. I picked up these Feal coilovers on Black Friday as well as some spec d headlights to match the tails. I’m really excited to try these Feals out, I usually run BC Coilolovers but everyone is saying these things are great. So we will see!




I got a few days off for the holidays so I got the car in the shop to install my coilovers. It was so easy to do on this car and I’m absolutely in love with how she looks now.




I will see how she rides this low but i definitely see my self having to get shortened knuckles sooner than anticipated. I have about an 1.5” from upper control arm to wheel well at full droop.

Going raise the front up a tad and I definitely need to roll the front fenders, it’s rubbing really bad and I only have about half steering as it sits. I will probably grab some cambered RCA’s soon as well to try and help with rub and suspension geometry.




I am so excited to finally have it low and on some wheels so now I can start on body and paint (my personal favorite parts of any build)

 

What spring rates did you choose?

You're set a lot lower than I am and my FUCA hit the body sometimes, with 14k springs.

The Waffes were a good pick

 

Oooff. Lots of drop there. I’m jealous.